Gold-separator



` IIE'ITEI)A sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

DAVID PIERCE, OF WOODSTOCK, VERMONT.

GOLD-SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 10,414, dated January 10, 1854.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID PIERCE, of Woodstock, in the county of Windso-r and State of Vermont, xhave invented a new and useful machine for separating one substance from another of less specific gravity while under water, which I denominate the goldseparating cylinder, and I do hereby declare that'the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being' had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference thereto.

The nature of my invention consists in the construct-ion of a cylinder of the following form, to be used as herein described, viz:

.Y Let there be made a cylinder two and a half inches in diameter and three inches long, having a square aperture, to admit a shaft or handle two inches square, passing through it from end to end, adapted to turn it. This cylinder we will call the concentric cylinder. Beginning at one end of this cylinder, let there .be constructed a spiral inclined plane about three-eighths of an inch thick, extending outward, at right angles with the cylinder two inches; let this inclined plane wind around the cylinder once, by such an ascent as shall raise the last end two inches, above the beginning of the plane. On the upper surface of this plane, beginning at the lower extremity and corresponding to radius of the cylinder let there be cut twenty steps, or depressions, more or less, according to the diameter of t-he cylinder, to the depth of one-fourth of an inch, at the greatest depression, perpendicular with the concentric cylinder; thence ascending about threefourths of an inch to an edge, in the form of a wedge, on the outer edge of the plane, and contracting inward to the concentric cylinder. Or if one step be so placed at the beginning of the inclined plane, that the valve, hereafter described, shall when shut rest upon it, this one step may be a substitute for most of the other steps, though an uneven surface will best promote the separation by agit-ating the contents of the cylinder, in passing over the plane. Around the extension edge of the inclined plane, construct a cylinder just large enough to receive it, whose lower edge shall correspond with the underside of the inclined plane, and whose upper edge shall rise two inches more or less, above the highest point in the plane. The concentric and exterior cylinders and the upper and lower ends of the inclined plane, now form an opening two inches square, somewhat In the form of the cutting `lip of an auger.' From the upper end of the inclined plane, suspendr a valve on hinges, adapt-ed to open inward but not outward.

What we have vdenominated the concentric Y cylinder is the receptacle of the socket, and Y maybe placed on one side of theexterior cylinder, while the spiral inclined plane shall occupy the whole interior of the larger cylinder, with proper arrangementsfor the l right action of the valve. Or the plane may wind around a solid center adapted to give attachment to the handle or shaft. yThis ar- I rangement favors the construction of small cylinders which may be desirable. The oriice may be so modified as'V to admit the mo-VV tion of a square valve; or ythe first step in the plane may conform to the valve, having the lower exterior corner rounded to t the concave surface of the larger cylinder. .After the insertionof the handle or shaft, the machine is prepared tok be turned, by any power suited to work it. The purpose' of this ar-` rangement and construction of themachine is to force the water, sand and gravel with their contents into the opening, under the valve, over the inclined plane, to secure the separation of the gold by subsidenceV into the stepsin its passage over them; or to retain it in the cylinder by its greater specific gravity, while substances of less specific gravity pass over the topof the cylinder.A

The machine is to be turned with the orifce toward the sand; this opens kthe valve and the sand and gravel with their contents pass in at the opening and over the inclined plane; and as the 'machine is turned the dip or inclination of the plane is such, that a revolution of the cylinder will depress it two inches, and the process may be continued at pleasure and the separation will go on. Reverse the motion and the valve' will close retaining the contents of the cylinder, rising with the same degree of ascent with which it descended, bringing up the contents. Y

The following are references to the drawings accompanying the specification: Figure I, a perspective view of the gold separating cylinder in a posit-ion to be turned with the` sun after insert-ing the shaft. Fig. II, a perspective view of the stepped inclined plane winding around the concentric cylinder, exhibiting the steps or depressions; the

WhatV I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- The gold separating cylinder with the stepped inclined interior surface and Valve opening, constructed and operating as herein described, or any other substantially the smeand which Will produce the intended e ect.

. p DAVID PIERCE.

Witnesses: l

ELIUKIM JOHNSON, ANNA C. ASPINWALL. 

